Taxi industry worries about stigmatization

During the TDM Forum debate yesterday, the Macau Taxi Driver Mutual Association president Kuok Leong Son claimed that it’s unfair for the government to introduce entrapment operations that target only taxi drivers, claiming that it will stigmatize the industry. Meanwhile, Kou Ngon Seng, a member of the government’s Traffic Services Committee, pointed out that entrapment can deter the rule-breakers and help the business of regular taxi drivers.
President Kuok Leong Son said that his association welcomes any new laws and regulations that can improve the current situation.
However, he said that many taxi drivers have questioned why the government is only legislating against them instead of creating a law that allows entrapment operations against other criminal activities.
“This is not fair to those drivers who observe the law. It makes the public and media wonder whether there are any real problems in the taxi industry and start suspecting the driver of wrongdoing once they get in a taxi. I think this is not fair to our industry.”
He added that the authority should instead amend the Penal Code and allow entrapment operations to be used in response to other crimes.
Kuok Leong Son even claimed that some new taxi drivers did not know how to read the meter and thought that they could negotiate the fare with passengers.
On the other hand, Traffic Services Committee member Kou Ngon Seng said that he supports the introduction of the entrapment measure. He also explained that the officials are not going to induce taxi drivers to break the law.
“Law enforcement agents have to take taxis too. If they have observed irregularities during their taxi trip, they can enforce the law. It is not like having an undercover [agent] to lure somebody to commit a crime,” Mr Kuok said.
He questioned why the government would link the ideas of entrapment and sending undercover agents together, which he said has caused confusion and disputes.
Meanwhile, the Macau Legal System Research Association president Chan Wa Keong suggested that the current laws in Macau are not in favor of entrapment or sending undercover officials, because it may incite crimes. Therefore, he said that the introduction of entrapment operations will have an impact on the local legal system.
Chan Wa Keong has called on the government to try other less controversial measures, such as installing cameras and microphones in taxis, before resorting to entrapment.  JPL

Gov’t ponders updating fares

The Macau government is considering updating taxi fares, in particular for circumstances such as public holidays. This is one of the suggested measures included in a public consultation document, as the MSAR authorities will be reviewing current legislation on the taxi industry.
The director of the Legal Affairs Bureau (DSAJ), Mr André Cheong, recalled that both the public and the taxi industry need to provide their opinions, but that updating the taxi fare is indeed a possibility, Radio Macau reported.
André Cheong provided examples of other situations in which employees are paid more during public holidays. He also stressed that restaurants are allowed to charge more throughout the Chinese New Year.
The Macau government is also considering implementing a regular scheme to update the taxi fare. Currently, taxi fares might be revised when the industry files an application for a tariff increase, which is later assessed by the government.
The consultation document includes a series of measures that the authority is considering ahead of revising legislation. These include the installation of electronic monitoring equipment inside taxis or undercover agents acting as “mystery clients.”
In a joint conference organized by DSAT and DSAJ, it was also revealed that the government is considering implementing “a smart system” to not only read electronic cards with each driver’s information, but also record the exact time and routes the taxi has travelled.
In the public consultation document, the administration has also suggested implementing higher fines. Whenever taxi drivers refuse passengers or overcharge the current penalty stands at MOP1,000; however the government has expressed the intention of increasing fines anywhere up to a figure of MOP2,000.
The public consultation will be held until September 23. DSAT has said it will treat the matter “as a priority” and hopes to present a draft by the end of this year.  CP